Kurt Russell, a well-known American actor, visited the Arlington home where his eighth great-grandfather was killed by British forces in a brutal fight that sparked the Revolutionary War in 1775. Russell spent a portion of his Fourth of July there.
Russell, a 74-year-old Springfield native, claimed that despite the dramatic nature of his ancestor’s death—which took place outside his home in one of the bloodiest battles that took place on the first day of the American Revolution, April 19, 1775—he was unaware until recently of his family’s connections to the American Revolution.
As he had his first tour of the historic Jason Russell House on Friday, Russell responded, “I’m stunned by it,” when asked if he was surprised that such a dramatic event in his family’s history had not been passed down to him. I have no idea why.
As the Red Coats were fleeing from the battles of Lexington and Concord, where the first shots of the war were fired, and traveling through Menotomy, now known as Arlington, on their way to Boston, the actor’s eighth great-grandfather, Jason Russell, was brutally bayoneted and shot twice by British soldiers outside his home.
Russell stated that even though he is 59 years old and has a bad leg, he still believes that he is eligible to fight if necessary. Knowing that he would be returning to this, he decided to go back and make sure everything was alright.
Alongside his oldest son, Boston Russell, Russell remarked, “That guy is my eighth grandfather, his ninth grandfather, and I think he was a badass dude, and I’m digging it.”
According to Revolution 250 Executive Director Jonathan Lane, family legend states that farmer Jason Russell died on the doorstep of his house while colonists were escaping inside, albeit the precise location of his death is unknown.
According to his Hollywood descendent, Jason Russell suffered up to 27 bayonet stab wounds.
Kurt Russell remarked, “These guys are trained soldiers.” You’re dead because they stabbed you once in the heart. He received between eleven and twenty-seven stab wounds. A hate crime, that is.
In addition to the Fourth of July, Russell’s visit to his ancestor’s house took place during Boston’s year-long celebration of the Revolutionary War’s 250th anniversary. The actor stated that he might launch a cannon and go to the Boston Pops party later in the day.
The Arlington Historical Society, which purchased and rebuilt the house in 1923, claims that Jason Russell was one of 12 colonials who perished there during the Battle of Menotomy. The society’s website states that the Russell family owned the house until 1896.
The Jason Russell House, where the actor and his 45-year-old son Boston began their tour on Friday, now has a painting that shows Russell being bayoneted by a British soldier on the doorstep of his house. The public can also take guided tours of the museum.
According to Russell, the family’s possible ancestry to the Revolutionary leader was really uncovered by his second son, Wyatt Russell, whom he has with actress and longterm companion Goldie Hawn. According to Russell, Wyatt wanted to visit but was unable to do so since he was filming a Marvel movie in London.
Being in Jason Russell’s home with a Captain America would have been an additional enjoyable experience. However, Russell joked that the Captain America he was with was the wrong one. He was going a bit too far. Therefore, I believe that’s a wonderful way to move from Jason Russell to that.
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While pointing out the bullet holes from the 1775 conflict that remained pocked the walls of his ancestor’s former home, Russell discussed his family’s involvement in a crucial period in American history. He claimed that the blood from the soldiers who fled or were brought into the house was ankle deep since the combat was so fierce.
Russell suggested the lesser-known first-day combat of the war would make a good film. He compared that sense of realism to Tombstone, a 1993 Western in which he starred, and stated that if he were to make such a movie, he would rather concentrate on the personalities of everyone involved and what preceded the final tragedy.
Russell stated, “I would like to see that movie, and I wouldn’t mind playing Jason.”
